Magic Johnson clapped back at Anthony Edwards in the best way after the Timberwolves star took a dig at NBA players from the 1980s and 90s.
Edwards told the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview that he wasn’t too impressed with players from those eras of the game.
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Well, Johnson was told about the comment by Stephen A. Smith while appearing at the Yaamava Resort & Casino with the ESPN personality, as the New York Post reports.
That’s when Johnson fired back at Edwards.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson told Smith and the audience, which drew laughter from the crowd.
Magic didn’t hold back in his assessment of Anthony Edwards. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP)Source: AFPEdwards (right) won an Olympic gold medal in Paris alongside Steph Curry and Team USA. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)Source: AFP
“There’s not really anything to say. He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.”
Johnson is certainly an authority in the game, having won five NBA titles with the Lakers.
And Edwards’ comments were enough to annoy some people in the basketball world, which seemingly included Johnson.
Edwards had told the WSJ that outside of Michael Jordan, no one in that era had much skill.
“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” he said.
Magic is one of the greatest players of all-time. Photo: ALLSPORT USASource: Getty ImagesEdwards and the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals last season. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then.
“(Michael Jordan) was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean?
“So that’s why when they saw Kobe (Bryant), they were like ‘oh, my God’. But now everybody has skill.”
Edwards is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 25.9 points per game and helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals.
However, the Timberwolves star is still in search of his first NBA title.
Edwards was part of the United States team that won gold at this month’s Paris Olympic Games.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission
A shoving match between Draymond Green and Desmond Bane led to a bigger kerfuffle during the second quarter as the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 137-116.
It was the latest exchange that Green has found himself a part of this season, though it was far less controversial than previous instances.
The whole fracas started after an exchange between Green and Santi Aldama under the basket, which led to Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins trying to have a word with a referee at the next stoppage of play.
Green got too close to Jenkins for Bane’s liking and tried to push him away, and that ignited the drama further and led to the Warriors’ Gary Payton II attempting to pull Green away as other players and officials tried to get in the middle of the situation.
At some point, Payton and Green got pushed into Jenkins, who had his back turned while re-engaging with the referee, sending the Memphis coach to the floor.
Green and Bane were each assessed technicals, and the situation cooled down from there.
The two were even seen shaking hands moments later in a show of respect for one another.
Draymond Green and Santi Aldama went at it. (Photo by EZRA SHAW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
It has been an interesting season, to say the least, for Green, who was suspended twice this year for physical altercations on the court.
In November, he was banished by the league for putting Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves in a headlock.
In December, he was suspended indefinitely by the NBA after he hit Jusuf Nurkic of the Suns with a spinning back fist.
The NBA cited his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” as the reasoning behind the hefty ban.
Green entered Wednesday night’s game averaging 8.8 points per game, 7.1 assists and 6.0 assists.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
Celtics beat Bucks to extend winning run | 01:12
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics held off a late fightback from the Milwaukee Bucks to win 122-119 in their top-of-table Eastern Conference clash.
Boston had looked to be cruising towards their seventh straight victory after dominating Milwaukee for long periods at the TD Garden.
Exploiting the absence of injured Bucks talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics surged into a 21-point lead late in the third quarter after Milwaukee had closed to within five just after half-time.
But a blistering fourth quarter performance by Milwaukee — who outscored the Celtics 36-21 in the final frame — set up a nerve-shredding finale before Boston squeaked home.
“It was ugly,” Tatum admitted.
“We didn’t play the way we wanted to in the fourth quarter, and they went on a run.
Tatum scored 31 points as the Celtics held on for a narrow win over the Bucks. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“No lead is safe in the NBA. But a win is a win and we’ll take it.”
Boston improved to 55-14 with the victory, leaving them a hefty 11 games clear of the second-placed Bucks.
The Celtics now need just three more wins to be assured of top seeding and home court advantage through the playoffs.
Even allowing for the fourth quarter wobble, few would bet against them returning to the NBA Finals in June after a performance which once again showcased their balanced offence.
Five Boston players finished with double-digit points tallies, including Derrick White (23), Jaylen Brown (21) and Kristaps Porzingis (17). Payton Pritchard added 19 off the bench.
“We’ve just got a really complete team,” Tatum told ESPN.
“We’ve been playing great all season, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Tatum said.
“I like the way that we’re trending, but we’re just focused on getting better every single day.
“We’re not looking to the playoffs. We’ve got a game on Friday against Detroit — and that’s the mindset that we’ve got to have.”
With Antetokounmpo absent, Milwaukee’s challenge was spearheaded by Damian Lillard, who finished with 32 points while Bobby Portis added 24 off the bench.
In other games on Wednesday, Kevin Durant surpassed Shaquille O’Neal to move into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102.
Kevin Durant moved into eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list thanks to his 22-point haul against the Sixers. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Durant, eight points behind O’Neal’s tally of 28,596 points before the game, drained a jump shot in the third quarter to move past the former Los Angeles Lakers icon.
“Well deserved,” O’Neal said in a video message to Durant. “It doesn’t stop here … If anybody was gonna pass me, it was definitely gonna be you.” Durant finished the night with 22 points, while Grayson Allen led the Suns scoring with 32 points including nine three-pointers.
In Cleveland, the Miami Heat produced a barnstorming finale to pip the Cavaliers 107-104.
Miami led for most of the game but Cleveland crept into a four-point lead with 1min 34sec remaining in the fourth.
The Heat’s Terry Rozier rattled off nine points in the closing stages including a crucial 26-foot three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to restore Miami’s advantage and see the visitors home.
Rozier finished with 24 points while Jimmy Butler led Miami’s scorers with 30. “That’s the most important thing, just getting the win,” Rozier said. “My teammates and coaches do a great job of reminding me daily, night-in, night-out, who I am and just to be that. Happy we got the win.” Miami improved to 38-31 with the victory and sit in seventh place in the East. Cleveland remain third in the table at 43-26.
The Sacramento Kings eased past the Toronto Raptors 123-89, while the Indiana Pacers swatted aside Detroit 122-103.
Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City breezed past the Utah Jazz 119-107, with Chet Holmgren (35) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31) combining for 66 points.
Two Mavericks fans may owe Suns superstar Kevin Durant a big thanks for keeping them from getting kicked out of American Airlines Center on Thursday night (all times US).
The two fans — a man and a woman — sat near where Phoenix players were coming out of the locker room when one of the spectators yelled out “bitch” toward Durant as he was taking the floor, according to WFAA’s Jonah Javad, who was standing courtside and was shooting video.
Durant clearly heard the comment and quickly turned around to confront the two fans, who were seated three rows back from the floor.
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While the music playing over the PA system made it hard to hear what the two-time NBA Finals MVP was saying in the video, the conversation was a lengthy one, and the female fan attempted to reach out for what seemed to be a high-five for a handshake from Durant several times.
Both fans wore Mavericks attire, and Durant eventually waved his hand in frustration and walked away.
But the situation took another twist when security was about to toss the two fans from the building, and Durant walked back over to tell them not to, Javad reported.
Players have not been shy about confronting fans or having them tossed from games when they feel their comments cross a certain line in recent years.
And Thursday’s incident wasn’t even the first time this season that a fan has created a potential issue during a game between the Mavericks and Suns.
Just last month, Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic had a fan removed from Footprint Center after the fan shouted at Doncic that he “looked tired” and needed to “get on a treadmill.”
Nets sack head coach Jacque Vaughn | 00:33
After the January game, Durant was asked about the fan ejection at the Suns arena.
“If somebody talk some s – t to me, I’ll talk it back and we’ll move on,” Durant told the Arizona Republic following the Doncic incident. “That’s usually how it should go. Once it gets overboard, little disrespectful to the point you got to stop the game, that’s different. A little quick word here and there is never bad.”
Durant appeared to be a man of his word on Thursday when he found himself in a similar spot.
The Suns lost Thursday’s game to the Mavericks, 123-113, and Durant finished the night with 23 points on 9 of 23 shooting.
The NBA superstar is in his first full season with the Suns after he was traded by the Nets last year as they closed their “Big 3” era.
In an interview that aired on ESPN earlier in the night, Durant was asked if he wanted to finish his career in Phoenix.
“Right now, in this moment today without thinking about the next moment, yeah,” Durant responded. “But that’s just saying right now and I can’t really predict what may happen, but I love playing in Phoenix. I love the fan base, the city. I’ve grown to understand what our mission is being in the Valley and how deeply these people care about their team.
“I started to understand the history of the Suns and I’m glad to be a part of it. I want to go up in that Ring of Honor one day.”
The Suns are the fourth organisation that Durant has played for during his NBA career.
Detroit Pistons centre Isaiah Stewart was arrested for assault Wednesday night (all times US) for punching Suns centre Drew Eubanks at the arena hours before the teams played, according to the Associated Press.
Phoenix police said Stewart was issued a citation and released.
Stewart — who was already listed as out for the game because of a sprained left ankle — punched Eubanks in the face in the back tunnels of Footprint Center ahead of the Suns’ 116-110 win over Detroit on Wednesday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania first reported.
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Stewart has been placed under arrest (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Eubanks, who scored six points and added six rebounds in the win, said before the game the altercation happened as he was coming into the arena.
He said an argument started and they were chest-to-chest before Stewart threw the punch. Security intervened and Eubanks said he was fine for the game, though police say he sustained a minor injury.
Eubanks was seen warming up on the court after the altercation and said that he was good to play, calling Stewart’s punch “soft.”
“The attack on Drew Eubanks was unprovoked, and acts of violence such as this are unacceptable,” the Suns said in a statement after the game. “We unequivocally support Drew, and will continue to work with local law enforcement and the NBA.”
“We are in the process of gathering information about what happened and what provoked it, and responding to the NBA and local authorities,” the Pistons said.
Before the news of Stewarts’ arrest, Pistons coach Monty Williams, fired by Phoenix after last season, said he thought the Suns should not have weighed in with their statement.
“The thing is to get all of the information. The NBA will do an investigation,” Williams said. “For me to come here and make a statement would be a bit irresponsible. I know the Suns said it was unprovoked; I think that is irresponsible for sure. You really don’t know.
“That did not need to happen. There is a time for the information to be gathered and then you can make a statement.”
Magic retire Shaquille O’Neal’s number | 00:42
Stewart hit Eubanks’ lip area and police had to get involved in the altercation to separate the two.
The NBA also is expected to receive and review footage of the incident.
Stewart had been ruled out of Wednesday’s game before this incident with Eubanks and had been dealing with an ankle injury for the past seven games, all of which he missed.
He has spent the past four seasons with the Pistons and has played in 35 games this season.
Stewart came into the night averaging 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
The altercation wouldn’t be the first time Stewart has found himself potentially in the crosshairs of the NBA.
In 2021, Stewart was involved in an ugly incident when he attempted to charge LeBron James and other Lakers players after he was bloodied as he fought for a rebound.
The Piston player had to be restrained by teammates and security.
But the Suns and Pistons don’t have much of a rivalry or any bad blood.
They do have a connection, though, as Pistons coach Monty Williams was previously a head coach in Phoenix.
He was taken in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Celtics, where Hunter averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 36 games before being selected by the Charlotte Bobcats next summer in the expansion draft.
He was later traded to the Magic.
Hunter smiles during a match. Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHunter in action for the Magic. Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
In Orlando, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 31 games during the 2004-05 season.
“We are terribly saddened to learn of the loss of our former teammate, Brandon Hunter. We send our deepest condolences to the entire Hunter family,” the Magic said in a statement.
A Cincinnati native, Hunter was a star forward for Ohio in college.
He was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Freshman Team in 2000 and made three consecutive appearances on the All-MAC First Team.
“We are saddened to hear about the loss of Ohio basketball legend Brandon Hunter. Our thoughts are with Brandon’s family at this time,” Ohio basketball wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After his two seasons in the NBA, Hunter continued his basketball career overseas in Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico, and Turkey.
He eventually returned to his hometown of Cincinnati after he finished his playing career in 2013.
Back in the United States, Hunter began a real estate and sports management company.
“I initially wanted to go into coaching,” Hunter told WCPO in 2017. “But with my background and everything that I learned about the collective bargaining agreement in the NBA and the transactions I’ve seen while living abroad, the understanding of how teams recruit and how different styles are in different countries, I decided to go into management.
“I thought it would be where I would blossom and be the best.”
“Hey, let’s go! F–k! Sit down!” Herbert screamed and then seemed to push Schroder to the bench.
The 29-year-old didn’t take too kindly to Herbert’s actions and immediately said, “coach, chill out.”
Herbert appeared to tell him “no” and seemed upset that Schroder wasn’t taking his direction. “You don’t tell me what to do,” the German coach retorted as Schroder tried to tell him to calm down for a second time.
Herbert reiterated for Schroder to sit down since the team was in a time out and he looked as though he was preparing to draw up a play.
The point guard still looked upset that his coach had put his hands on him.
“You’re not gonna touch me like that,” Schroder could be heard saying.
“I know I’m just telling you to sit down,” Herbert responded.
The exchange didn’t seem to disrupt Germany’s rhythm in the game as it took down Slovenia 100-71 and Schroder had a game-high 24 points and 10 assists in 25 minutes.
He finished the game shooting 4-for-7 from three-point range.
Herbert and Schroder both spoke with reporters after the game but neither one addressed the incident in much detail.
“It will be handled internally,” Herbert told reporters, according to BasketNews.
In a conversation with the outlet, Schroder addressed a different fiery exchange, which occurred right before the one with his coach.
Video of the incident did show him in an animated conversation with Daniel Theis.
Schroder said that it was a moment when emotions were running high.
“I mean, basketball is an emotional sport,” Schroder said. “It’s a game of runs, and you gotta stay cool. Me and Daniel go way back, I have known him since I was 12 or 13. We had those kinds of moments when we were young as well, but it always helped us to elevate our game.”
“That’s what happened today. We got into it, and I told him, ‘Listen, that’s what you gotta do, and you can tell me the same thing.’ Of course, he’s going to be pissed a little bit. It will itch a little bit, but he will give his all. I think that’s what happened.”
Chris Paul, a 12-time NBA All-Star guard, has been told he will be released by the Phoenix Suns after three seasons with the club, league telecaster TNT reported Thursday.
Paul, still chasing his first NBA title at age 38, would likely be among the most popular free agents despite averaging a career-low 13.9 points as well as 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game this season.
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Later reports from NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania claimed the Suns are exploring multiple options, including the possibility he could be waived, but that nothing is finalised.
Charania reported that a trade, stretching Paul’s contract or waiving and re-signing him in free agency are all possibilities.
After missing the playoffs for a decade, the Suns returned in the 2020-21 campaign and reached the NBA Finals, losing to Milwaukee in six games. But Phoenix, which set a team record with 64 wins in 2021-22, was eliminated in the second round in each of the past two seasons.
Paul, who won Olympic gold with US NBA all-star squads in 2008 and 2012, is a six-time NBA steals leader and five-time NBA assists leader.
He has averaged 17.9 points, 9.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game over 18 NBA seasons with the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Suns.
The report came a day after the Suns confirmed the hiring of Frank Vogel as their new coach, replacing Monty Williams, who was fired last month and hired by the Detroit Pistons last week.
Vogel coached the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2020 NBA title.
Paul had two seasons remaining on his four-year deal worth $120 million and waiving him would save the Suns nearly $15 million in salary cap funds for next season.
